The Trendiest Hairstyle the Year You Were Born

They've changed so much over time (there was the iconic '20s bob — and who could forget the Farrah waves of the1970s?). But more importantly, what was the most memorable look during your birth year?

1 of 76

1925: Brushed Out Waves

As soft and ethereal as the early films this style was worn for, brushed out waves gave actresses like Mary Pickford a feminine silhouette.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

2 of 76

1926: Browband

A thin, sometimes jeweled piece of fabric worn around the forehead, this style was dubbed the "headache band" — not exactly an appealing accessory nickname, but it looks so chic!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

3 of 76

1927: Blunt Bangs

The total opposite of the era's fluffier looks, blunt bangs framed the face (and thin '20s brows) in the most literal way possible.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

4 of 76

1928: Bright Red Hair

Sure, films were in black and white, but when the public heard that movie star Clara Bow dyed her hair red, henna sales went through the roof.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

5 of 76

1929: Eton Crop

One of the most famous wearers of the Eton crop, Josephine Baker rocked her stunning slicked-down style with a "kiss curl," a thin swirl of hair on her forehead intended to add a touch of femininity.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

6 of 76

1930: Finger Waves

A style that is still as stunning nowadays as it was then, finger waves was a heavily-styled look (shown here on actress Alice Day) that gave softness to sharp, crisp bob haircuts.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7 of 76

1931: Shingle Cut

Here, Louise Brooks shows off her thin eyebrows, bee-stung lips, and chic angular bob cut with swooping ends that was so popular during the '20s and '30s.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

8 of 76

1932: Waves Pulled Low

Unlike the looser styles of the decade, many women, including Greta Garbo, preferred to pull their hair tight and low into a dramatic 'do.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

9 of 76

1933: Deep Side Part

A trend that has yet to go out of style, the deep side part was beloved by stars including Carole Lombard as well as millions of women alike. Check out our simple tutorial on how to get it yourself.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

10 of 76

1934: Soft Sculpted Waves

Delicately shaped waves a la Marlene Dietrich took hold of trend lovers during the mid-1930s.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

11 of 76

1935: Marcel Wave

Similar to finger waves, the Marcel wave was a highly styled wave worn by the likes of Jean Harlow, among many other actresses. Hairdresser Marcel Grateau is often credited for inventing the technique, which involved using hot curling tongs to give hair deep, defined waves.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

12 of 76

1936: Pin Curls

Pin curls may have taken wearers a long time to properly accomplish (each piece is literally twirled into a circle to set the curl), but wow, were they worth it.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

13 of 76

1937: Rolled and Tucked

Dorothy Lamour, among other actresses, touted a less curly style that had hair rolled into a neat silhouette.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

14 of 76

1938: Updo with Flowers

Though she was known primarily for her iconic voice, Billie Holiday's stardom also popularized elegantly accenting hairstyles with flowers — specifically white gardenias.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

15 of 76

1939: Curled Pigtails

Starring in her most famous role as Dorothy in 1938's wildly popular Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland helped popularize the curly pigtail look.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

16 of 76

1940: Half-Updo

Vivien Leigh's famous portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind featured a throwback Southern belle look with rolled-back hair.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

17 of 76

1941: Snoods

Worn during World War II by women employed in factories, this headpiece, made of cloth or yarn, held women's hair away from their neck.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

18 of 76

1942: Glam Pin Curls

Not content to keep things basic, stars like Betty Grable brought pin curls and finger waves to the next level with bold blonde hair, red lipstick, and fun fashion.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

19 of 76

1943: Peekaboo Bangs

With the femme fatale at the forefront of both fashion and cinema, stars like Veronica Lake ushered in sexy hairstyles that hid just one eye for an air of mystery.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

20 of 76

1944: Soft Waves

Delicate curls and waves brought softness to thick bangs and long bobs like Barbara Stanwyck's.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

21 of 76

1945: Victory Rolls

After the war, many women signaled their celebratory feelings with a voluminous style dubbed "victory curls" — a 'do that would become one of the era's most famous.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

22 of 76

1946: Loose Curls

A softer curled style stayed popular throughout the era, with stars like Rita Hayworth maintaining a deep side part and full waves.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

23 of 76

1947: Crown Braid

During the '40s, braided hairstyles rose to prominence, with stars like Billie Holiday donning crown braids and braided buns, occasionally weaving in pieces of fabric or hair in contrasting colors.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

24 of 76

1948: Elegant Updos

As the result of an emphasis on mimicking actresses like Joan Fontaine and Lana Turner, stylish women opted for glamorous hairstyles like thick, polished chignons, sometimes accessorizing them with clips or pins.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

25 of 76

1949: Brushed Out Waves

Linda Darnell and other famous starlets popularized soft waves without and harsh edges or heavy products.

With her sex appeal, outrageous personality, and iconic style, Bettie Page and her famous bangs influenced those who desired an edgier take on traditional looks.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

28 of 76

1952: Italian Cut

Inspired by Italian actresses, starlets like Dorothy Dandridge rocked this chic, short cut (similar to a poodle pixie, a curly short cut) featuring sculpted locks and a rounded silhouette.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

29 of 76

1953: Short Crop

Making the short cut more accessible to the masses was Audrey Hepburn, aka America's eternal sweetheart. After chopping her hair in 1953's Roman Holiday, women fell in love with the modern, easygoing style.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

30 of 76

1954: Blonde Bombshell Hair

The age of the blonde bombshell was ushered in by no other than Marilyn Monroe, the most famous of them all.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Woman's Day participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.